Focusing apparatus for a motion picture projector



July 26, 1966 w. R. HICKS ETAL FOCUSING APPARATUS FOR A MOTION PICTUREPROJECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 29. 1961 July 26, 1966 Iw. R. HICKS ETAL FOCUSING APPARATUS FOR A MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR I 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 29. 1961 INVENTORS WALT R R. HICKADOLEH MENDELOHN July 26, 1966 w c s T 3,262,358

7 FOCUSING APPARATUS FOR A MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR Original Filed Nov.29. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 {40 FIG. 4

INVENTORS WALTER R HICKS ADOLPH MENDELSOHN United States Patent3,262,358 FOCUSING APPARATUS FOR A MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR Walter R.Hicks, Manhasset, and Adolph Mendelsohn, New York, N.Y., assignors, bymesne assignments, to Kirkeby-Natus Corporation, New York, N.Y., acorporation of Maryland Original application Nov. 29, 1961, Ser. No.155,593. Divided and this application May 11, 1965, Ser. No.

2 Claims. 01. 88-24) This is a division of application Serial No,155,593 filed November 29, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention relates to motion picture apparatus and in particular tocertain improvements in the disposition of film take-up and feed reels,in combination with a motion picture projector. v

The present invention was devised in connection with the origination ofan entire, automatically functioning motion picture projection system tobe installed on large passenger aircraft for in-flight motion pictureviewing. In accordance with the basic concept and operation of the newsystem, during flights of sufiicient duration, passengers are shown fullor feature-length motion pictures, the system being initiated by anelectrical control switch available to the pilot, but otherwisecompletely untended by air crew personnel during viewing.

Not the least among the difiiculties inherent in developing the newprojection system were those imposed by the space and design limitationsof present-day conventional passenger aircraft. It was necessary toinstall the projector unit, including the supply and take-up reelstherefor, in a permanent position which would permit minimum undistortedviewing, without materially altering or disrupting the already compactallocation of space within the interior of the aircraft. The logicalplacement of the projector unit compatible with available space,required installation of the unit in a flat, overhead compartment,midway or slightly toward the rear of the passenger section. Aspace-height prerequisite was thus imposed, necessitating the entireprojector unit, including reels, mounting frame and other accessories,not to exceed a total height of 12 inches.

Feature films have a total running footage of approximately 5,000 feet,and may in some instances be someprojector is mounted, the total heightof the projector and frame being no greater than twelve inches.Laterally adjacent to the projector, a single, vertical reel mount issecured to the frame with mounting provisions thereon for receivingcoaxially, an upper film supply reel and a lower take-up reel. The topto bottom spacing of the reels is less than the overall height of theprojector and in the particular embodiment herein illustrated, is lessthan one-half the height of the projector. The reel mount is constructedsuch that the upper supply reel may rotate freely and independently of adriving rotation provided for the lower take-up reel. Advantageously andto assist the compact nature of the projector unit, the supply andtake-up reels are relatively closely spaced and are elevated whatgreater in length. Since the present system utilizes including aconventional, vertically positioned projector,

in combination with large diameter, laterally adjacent film supply andtake-up reels. The latter are horizontally disposed and are compactlyand coaxially mounted to have collectively an overall vertical dimensionwhich is less than the height of the projector.

More specifically, a frame is provided upon which a above the projectormounting frame but remain below the height of the projector. Thisarrangement permits certain of the accessory members of the projectorunit, including a drive motor for the take-up reel, to be affixed to themounting frame of the projector unit beneath the supply and take-upreels. Intermediate each of the reels and the projector, guide rolls areprovided for assisting the gradual re-orientation of film fromhorizontalto vertical dispositions when fed to the projector, and viceversa, from the projector to the take-up reel.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent uponexamination of the following detailed description of a particularembodiment and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a general view showing the installation of the projector unitof the invention in a passenger aircraft;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the projector unit;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the projector unit; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the specificstructure of the supply and take-up reel mounting means. 0

Referring now to the drawing and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, referencenumeral 10 indicates generally the fuselage of a passenger carryingaircraft and numeral 11 designates the passenger compartment thereof. Inaccordance with the .present invention, a fully automatic motion pictureprojector system is installed within the passenger compartmentcomprising in part, a projector unit 12. A screen 13 (shown in viewingposition) is hinged to the ceiling or overhead of the compartment 11forwardly of the projector unit. At times other than during the showingof films, the screen 13 may be swung upwardly against the overhead andsecured thereto for storage.

The projector unit 12 is mounted within a flat overhead compartment 14situated generally centrally of the compartment 11. In the particularembodiment, the compartment 14 may accommodate a projector unit havingan exterior shape or envelope approximately 12 inches in height and 30inches square. The film supply reel of the projector unit will carry theentire footage of a full length feature film so that the showing will becontinuous. The operation of the unit 12 is controlled remotely by acockpit switch (not shown), but otherwise may remain entirely untendedduring the entire performance.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the projector unit 12 includes a horizontalmounting frame member 16 of lightweight honey combed aluminumconstruction, which is approximately 30 x 30". Each of the members ofthe projector unit (for example, the audio amplifier 15) is mounted uponthe frame for package installation of the unit into the compartment 14of the aircraft. Securely bolted in upright fashion to the frame 16 is aprojector 17 whose height together with the frame 16 does not exceed 12inches. The projector, except for the focusing mechanism describedimmediately following, is of conventional design and includes film feedand return sprockets 19, 19'.

The projector 17 includes a multi-diametered cylindrical lens holder 20.The holder 20 encloses an internally slidable lens mounting sleeve 22,exterior wall portions of which are exposed through a cutout 21 in theholder 20. The sleeve is afiixed to a rack 23 slidable therewith withrespect to the holder parallel to the projection axis. A shaft 26 isrotatably journalled in the lower arm 27b of a clamping block 27 and isalso permitted limited slidable movement with respect thereto. The block27, including the upper and lower arms 27a, 27b respectively thereofencompasses the sleeve 22 within the cutout 21 to prevent translatorymovement of the block 27 respective of the holder 20. A pinion 24 isaflixed to the shaft 26 for rotation therewith, and by means of theslidable movement of shaft 26, may selectively be brought intoengagement with or disengagement from the rack 23.

The shaft 26 is provided with a coupling 28 and an extension 29. Thecoupling 28 permits hinged movement of the lever 29 in rotating theshaft 26. In the arrangement shown, with the pinion 24 in engagementwith the rack 23, rotation of the shaft 26 will cause translatorymovement of the lens mounting sleeve 22 and thus focusing adjustment.

The shaft 26 is, as mentioned, permitted limited slidable movementrespective of the clamping block 27 such that the threaded upper endthereof may enter a threaded bore 30 in the upper arm 27a. When theshaft 26 has entered the bore 30 disengagement of the pinion 24 and therack 23 will occur. Interior surface portions of the clamp 27 arenormally in slidable engagement with the movable lens sleeve 22, withinthe cutout 21. The arrangement is such that upon threaded engagement ofthe shaft 26 in the arm 27a, and upon further rotation of shaft 26, theblock 27 will be brought into engagement with the movable lens sleeve 22to secure the focusing adjustment permanently against vibration or otherdisturbance during a performance.

As will be seen with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, motion picture film 31is fed from a horizontal supply reel 32 to guide rolls 33 and 34 thenceto the feed sprocket 19 of the projector. From the output sprocket 19 ofthe projector, the film is fed to guide rolls 36, 37, to a tensionsensing device 38, including the roll 38a, and to a lower horizontallydisposed take-up reel 39. The tension sensing device 38 is described indetail in the co-pending application Serial No. 155,592 filed November29, 1961 now Patent No. 3,118,629.

The supply and take-up reels 32 and 39, respectively are mountedcoaxially and laterally adjacent to the projector 17. Each of the reels32, 39 is disposed horizontally and as illustrated, the total heightincluded by the reels is somewhat less than one-half of the total heightof the projector. By disposing of the reels thus horizontally, theoverall height of the projector unit is maintained at a minimum. It is afunction of the respective guide rolls intermediate the reels 32 and 39and the projector, at least in part, to re-orient the film 31 as itpasses respectively to and from the projector and the reels, from thehorizontal disposition of the film when wound upon the reels to thevertical disposition thereof as it passes through the projector. Amanually operated spring-loaded brake 35 is mounted adjacent the supplyreel to engage against the periphery thereof when the projector is notin use. The brake will at other times be disengaged from the reel 32.

As disclosed in FIG. 4, the reels 32, 39 are each mounted coaxially upona reel mount 40. The mount 40 comprises an inner stub shaft 41, having abase mounting flange 42 which is appropriately secured by bolts 43 tothe frame 16.

The shaft 41 is rigidly attached to an outer cylindrical member 44. Atthe lower end of shaft 41 and supported by a portion of the base flange42, is a thrust bearing 46. Secured to the upper race of bearing 46 is arotatable shaft 48. The upper end of the shaft 48 is secured to afriction bearing 48. A second rotatable shaft 51 is in coaxial relationto the shaft 48 and is rotatable independently thereof. The lower end ofthe shaft 51 is secured to a friction bearing 51 which rests upon and issupported during rotation by a collar 50 pinned to the stationary shaft44. The upper end of shaft 51 is attached to a bearing member 51" whichslidably engages the shaft 44' Each of the shafts 48 and 51 includesmounting flanges 52, 53 for holding respectively, the take-up reel 39and the supply reel 32. Each of the flanges is provided with locatingpins 54, the lower ends thereof being fitted into openings 56 in theflanges 52 and 53. The reels have cooperating apertures to preventrotation of the reels with respect to the mounting flanges.

A pulley 47 is integrally connected to the lower portion of the take-upreel shaft 48. Openings 49 in the body of the pulley permit access tothe bolts 43. A conventional V-shaped groove 57 is formed in theperiphery of the pulley 47 for the reception of a drive belt 58. As bestseen in FIG. 3, the belt 58 completes its passage around a smallerpulley 60, whose periphery has a plurality of gear teeth. These are inmeshing engagement with a worm 61 driven by an electric motor 62.Consequently, rotation of the motor 62 will cause rotation of the sleeve48 and the take-up reel 39. In the particular embodiment, the motor is a24 volt 400 cycle 3 phase motor whose output speed is 7000 r.p.m. Theworm 61 together with pulleys 60 and 47 effect a 300:1 reduction inspeed of the take-up reel 39. The speed of the reel 39 may be furthervaried by the tension device 38 as described in the aforementionedco-pending application Serial No. 155,592 now Patent No. 3,1 18,629.

It will be noted that the take-up reel 39 is elevated sufficiently abovethe frame 16 to permit the installation of the drive motor 62 beneaththe reel 39. Portions of other parts of the unit such as the filmtension mechanism 38 and parts of the projector itself may thereforeconveniently project beneath the lower of the two reels, to

save space.

The significance of the described reel and projector arrangement will beseen in proper perspective when it is realized that each of the reels 32and 39 have a diameter of approximately 24 inches in order that each mayaccommodate the total footage of a full length feature film. In

the disclosed arrangement the reels are mounted laterally adjacent tothe projector 17 and being horizontal, need not increase the overallheight of the projector unit 12. In fact, the height of the unit isdetermined only by the height of the projector itself. Consequently, acompact projector unit is achieved capable of providing continuousfull-length motion picture performances and which can easily beinstalled in a shallow overhead compartment in the passenger section ofan aircraft without reducing headroom therein.

It will be understood that the foregoing description relates to aparticular embodiment and is merely representative. In order tounderstand fully the spirit and scope of the invention, reference shouldbe made to the appended claims in which:

We claim:

1. A focusing apparatus for a motion picture projector comprising afixed lens mount member, a lens carrying sleeve slidable within saidfixed member along a projection axis, aperture means defined by saidfixed member exposing a portion of said movable sleeve, clamp meansdisposed in said aperture means and held axially therein by said member,said clamp means being free to move within the aperture against themovable sleeve to secure said sleeve, a shaft connected to said clampmeans, means for moving said clamp means into engagement with saidmovable sleeve upon rotation of said shaft, and gear means on said shaftand said movable sleeve for moving said sleeve along said pnojectionaxis upon rotation of said shaft when said clamp is disengaged from saidmovable sleeve.

2. A focusing apparatus according to claim 1 in which the clamp meanscomprises a member of generally C- shaped construction having upper andlower arms, means in one of said arms for journalling said shaft forrotation and for slidable movement relative thereto, the other of saidarms defining a threaded bore for the reception of a correspondinglythreaded end portion of said shaft, the slidable movement of said shaftpermitting entry of the threaded end thereof into said bore, means onsaid shaft cooperating with the arm journalling said shaft for effectingmovement of said arms towards each other upon continued notation of saidshaft when in threaded engagement with the other of said arm rack gearattached to the lens carrying sleeve for engagement with said pinionwhen the threaded end of the shaft is withdrawn from said threaded bore,said pinion being disengaged from said rack gear when the end of saidshaft is threadably engaged with said clamp.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 830,820 6/1903Bausch 88-24 x 2,482,629 9/1949 Little 95 45 X 2,506,948 5/1950 Wienke8824 2,571,804 10/1951 Wittel et a1. 88 24 3,088,370 5/1963 Erke et a188-24 FOREIGN PATENTS 552,371 4/1943 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

V. A. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

1. A FOCUSING APPARATUS FOR A MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR COMPRISING AFIXED LENS MOUNT MEMBER, A LENS CARRYING SLEEVE SLIDABLE WITHIN SAIDFIXED MEMBER ALONG A PROJECTION AXIS, APERTURE MEANS DEFINED BY SAIDFIXED MEMBER EXPOSING A PORTION OF SAID MOVABLE SLEEVE, CLAMP MEANSDISPOSED IN SAID APERTURE MEANS AND HELD AXIALLY THEREIN BY SAID MEMBER,SAID CLAMP MEANS BEING FREE TO MOVE WITHIN THE APERTURE AGAINST THEMOVABLE SLEEVE TO SECURE SAID SLEEVE, A SHAFT CONNECTED TO SAID CLAMPMEANS, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CLAMP MEANS INTO ENGAGMENT WITH SAIDMOVABLE SLEEVE UPON ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, AND GEAR MEANS ON SAID SHAFTAND SAID MOVABLE SLEEVE FOR MOVING SAID SLEEVE ALONG SAID PROJECTIONAXIS UPON ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT WHEN SAID CLAMP IS DISENGAGED FROM SAIDMOVABLE SLEEVE.